Ken Lendoll watched Q.P., whose entire body radiated a dazzling white glow, a proud smile spreading across his face. What they had both long dreamed of had finally been achieved today, and Q.P. had at last grown strong enough to no longer need his protection.
But even after returning to the bench, Q.P. remained completely silent. Since evolving into Ultimate Quality, his originally cool and composed aura had deepened into something far heavier. The other German players, sensing the change, didn't even dare to disturb him.
Over on Japan's side, the team's expressions were grim. None of them had expected that even after Tezuka had begun fusing the three Radiances, Q.P. would still manage to absorb the Radiance of Strong Heart—and unleash such terrifying power on top of it.
Tezuka himself, however, looked perfectly calm. He didn't seem at all shaken by the points he'd just lost. In fact, the words his father had spoken to him earlier were now echoing in his heart more clearly than ever. That quiet understanding was what allowed him to maintain his perfectly steady composure.
He knew very well that if he hadn't released his racket in time during that last rally, his wrist would've been seriously injured—perhaps even broken. In that case, forget winning; he wouldn't even have been able to continue playing.
After all, Tezuka didn't have Oni's monstrous physical strength. If he forced himself to play through a broken wrist like Oni once did, his own career might end right here.
The short break of only a few dozen seconds passed quickly. When Tezuka and Q.P. stepped back onto the court, the stadium erupted in thunderous applause. Even many spectators who had originally come to cheer for Germany were amazed that a Japanese middle schooler could fight Q.P. on equal footing.
The sixth game began with Tezuka's serve. He walked to the baseline, calm as ever. The blue light around him gradually tightened and condensed into a smooth radiance that wrapped his entire body, while countless azure particles continued to swirl around him.
Then, without hesitation, Tezuka tossed the ball and swung. His left arm twisted powerfully through the motion, imparting a deep, complex spin to the ball, which shot toward Germany's court at incredible speed.
Q.P.'s eyes narrowed. His body blurred into several afterimages as he dashed forward, reaching the front court in an instant. When the spinning ball touched down, he swung decisively—but the instant the racket brushed the ball, an unstable, violent spin force exploded back through it, numbing his hand and making control impossible.
The next moment, the ball rebounded backward at high speed, slamming into the net and making it shudder before dropping limply to the ground.
"Ace! 15–0!"
Q.P. glanced at Tezuka, who was still holding his follow-through pose. He hadn't expected that his opponent could strengthen the Zero Shiki Serve to this degree. But the evolved Q.P. could also sense something else—Tezuka's body couldn't handle using that serve repeatedly.
"So Tezuka's finally resorted to that shot... I just wonder how long his arm can last," Sanada muttered, eyes fixed on Tezuka's left arm.
"Judging from the data during Nationals, Tezuka can use it maybe eight times at most," Yukimura said seriously. "Any more than that, and the power drops sharply. Worse, it'll cause real damage to his arm. Not worth the risk."
While they spoke, Tezuka launched his second Enhanced Zero Shiki Serve without hesitation. Even for someone like Q.P., blessed with Ultimate Quality, it was nearly impossible to return—a technique aided by the very rules of tennis themselves.
"Ace! 30–0!"
The next two serves were the same—cold, precise, and unstoppable. Q.P. tried several different ways to return them, but every attempt failed. His expression, however, remained unreadable.
"Ace! 40–0!"
"Game! Japan leads! 2–4!"
In the seventh game, Q.P. unleashed his full power. His shots thundered toward Japan's court again and again. Tezuka struggled to keep up, and under that brutal barrage, his Ultimate Zone finally shattered completely.
"Game! Germany! 3–4!"
"Q.P.'s strength, speed, and technique have all gone far beyond human limits... so this is what Ultimate Quality really means," Tanegashima said softly, watching Q.P. walk back toward the German bench.
"If that's the case, maybe I should've been the one to play this match," Oni muttered, brows furrowed.
"The coaches made their lineup for a reason," Irie said calmly. "Right now, the only thing we can do is trust Tezuka-kun."
Akashi sat silently on the Japan bench, golden light flickering faintly in his eyes. The Emperor Eye was operating at full power, its insight stretched to the very limit. Invisible mental energy extended outward from him, slowly wrapping around Tezuka.
'Strange… besides the Radiance of Ten'i Muhō inside Tezuka, there's another familiar energy stirring within him. Could that be the real key to fusing the three Radiances?' Akashi thought to himself, uncertainty flashing across his expression as he continued to observe.
The match resumed soon after. In the eighth game, Tezuka stepped up to serve once more. As expected, he launched another Enhanced Zero Shiki Serve. Even though it put enormous strain on his arm, Tezuka showed no hesitation.
Relying on the refined technique granted by Ultimate Quality, Q.P. tried repeatedly to return the serves. But the chaotic rotational impact was simply too much—it couldn't be neutralized at the moment of contact. At this stage, Tezuka's serve was practically invincible. The only problem was the toll it took on his body.
"Game! Japan leads! 3–5!"
"Yes! Just one more game and Tezuka-senpai will win the match!" Kirihara shouted excitedly from the bench.
"No… it's the opposite," Atobe said flatly, his sharp eyes narrowing. "That guy's arm can't take much more. He won't be able to keep serving like that for long."
"Based on Tezuka's personality, the probability that he'll continue using Enhanced Zero Shiki Serves in his next service game is 100%," Inui said as he adjusted his glasses, his expression grim.
"And with the strain on his arm right now, the chance of him scoring with those serves again is only 39.27%," Yanagi added calmly.
Across the court, Volk's eyes gleamed with respect as he watched Tezuka prepare to receive. He could clearly see the burden Tezuka's arm was enduring, yet the boy's expression remained calm, his will unwavering.
"As expected from the country of the samurai, Nanjirō," Volk murmured quietly. "That kind of spirit deserves praise. Perhaps that's why you were able to awaken the Radiance of Strong Heart. But it's unfortunate… your opponent is a man who's already attained the ultimate form—Q.P."
Volk's voice carried a faint tone of regret, and for the first time, he understood why Europe had never produced a player with the Radiance of Strong Heart.
The ninth game unfolded exactly as Volk predicted. Under Q.P.'s relentless offensive, Tezuka could barely hold his ground. His Ultimate Zone shattered under the pressure, and his Zero Shiki techniques were completely neutralized. In terms of base ability, he was being outmatched in all five key areas.
"Game! Germany! 4–5! Change sides!"
When Tezuka returned to the bench, the medical team was already waiting with ice packs. He thanked them softly before pressing one to his left arm. Even though his face remained composed, the stabbing pain was impossible to ignore.
As the break ended and they switched sides, Tezuka once again stood at the baseline. His gaze was sharp, unwavering. He tossed the ball high—and without hesitation, unleashed another Enhanced Zero Shiki Serve.
The ball streaked toward the German court in a blur of chaotic spin. Q.P. instantly dashed to intercept it. He knew it would be difficult to return, but surrender was never an option. The moment his racket brushed the spinning ball, his eyes flashed—'Just as I thought.'
"Ace! 15–0!"
Although he failed to return it, Q.P. had clearly sensed that the chaotic spin had weakened. That meant Tezuka's arm was at its limit—the power behind his serves could no longer hold.
When Tezuka served again, he frowned slightly, his left hand trembling as he swung. Still, the ball spun violently toward the German court.
Just like before, Q.P. struck at the spinning ball's edge. This time, the disruptive energy was noticeably weaker. The ball rose off his racket, climbed the net—but fell short of the top, rolling slowly back down.
"Ace! 30–0!"
Despite losing two points in a row, Q.P. actually felt relieved. He gave Tezuka a calm glance before turning and walking back to the baseline. Tezuka stood silent for a moment, head slightly lowered, before tossing the ball again.
Once more, it was an Enhanced Zero Shiki Serve. But this time, Tezuka rushed forward immediately after the serve—charging the net. When Q.P. successfully lifted the spinning ball over, the reason for Tezuka's decision became clear to everyone.
Reaching the front of the court, Tezuka angled his racket and performed a sharp half-volley, lifting the ball high. It arced beautifully through the air, spinning at extreme speed before dropping toward Germany's baseline.
Just before it hit, Q.P. suddenly appeared beneath it. His left arm swung powerfully, sending the ball rocketing forward in a blazing white column.
The blast streaked past Tezuka before he could take even a full step sideways, slamming into the baseline and bouncing out of bounds.
"30–15!"
"Looks like your arm's reached its limit," Q.P. said coldly, his tone emotionless. "It's about time this match came to an end."